 More than five years later, on February 8, 1870, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for "rescue of regimental colors" during that battle.Thomas Hawkins died of cancer at age 29 or 30 on February 28, 1870, and was buried in Columbian Harmony Cemetery in Washington, D.C. His remains were moved to National Harmony Memorial Park in Landover, Maryland, in 1960 when the original cemetery closed and was sold.A memorial plaque was placed at his grave in 1997.